Russian attack against Cheneya continues

An estimated 3,000 rebel fighters in the city, meanwhile, continued building defensive positions. According to Russian intelligence, some 200 explosives experts under the Jordanian rebel leader Khattab were laying booby traps and mines along with dangerous chemicals.

As federal forces hurried to completely encircle Grozny by mid-December, the Russian military this week repeatedly ruled out a full-blown storm of the city. Commanders have called upon the local population to try to force the rebels to pull out.